La La Land--the return of the musical

Boy, has this garnered a buzz.
It played here at the Film Fest and I don't know when I read a reviewer gush so much.
He said one thing that really works is their chemistry--they've been together on screen before and there is a casual charm to the whole project. I think this is a must-see-in-the-theater for us.

La La Land | Facebook »

 

I love musicals, but I'll have to get past my Ryan-Gosling-Worst-Actor-In-The-World phobia.

 

I don't like 'traditional' musicals, but this is on my list. I do like satirical musical takes like in the excellent Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

 

Saw Justin Timberlake on Fallon last week and he was promoting his latest; Trolls, as a full on musical. Besides his role he's actually the musical director. Of course, I'm not expecting The Sound Of Music or West Side Story!

 

Saw the La-La Land trailer in the theater yesterday. They better cut a new trailer. This one did nothing for me. I got zero sense of the movie.

 

Don't like the tunes.
No need to look over your shoulder >Singing In The Rain.

 

This is true.

 

Him I can tolerate. Emma Stone's meager charms must reflect her having one hell of an agent since she seems to be in every other movie.

 

I've loved Emma Stone ever since I saw her amazing performance in Easy A. Meager, indeed!

 

I love that the trailer doesn't tell me the whole plot. I'm fired up to see it!

Full disclosure, I love musicals. I see Bollywood movies to get my musical fix.

I enjoy both Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.

The only thing that makes me wary, is "From the writer and director of Whiplash" as I (in the words of the Roger Ebert) "Hated, hated, hated" that film, and considered it the most overrated and overpraised piece of hackery in a decade and a vile slander on music education, a field with which I have a deep and close relationship.

 

I'm not talking about the plot. I'm talking about how much of the film is a musical. Is it like Woody Allens "Everyone Says I love You" a regular comedy/drama where songs break out occasionally, or is one long winding winding fantasy piece that is always on it toes like "Across the Universe" (oh, I pray not. What an awful musical) ? I wish I had a better sense of the tone of the film. Is it madhouse like Baz Lurman's musicials with big set pieces or an Astaire Roger's kind of production where a couple just croons to each other. And I didnt think there enough choreography shown for me to get a sense of the production values or
enough music played to tell me if the music is any good! That's what I meant by getting little sense of the film.

 

Oh, is it time for the musical to make another "comeback?"

Seems to happen every few years and fizzles out pretty quickly.

 

I am absolutely blown away by the trailer.



If the movie lives up to this, it's the most beautiful film I've seen this year. Maybe in several years. The early buzz and reviews are through the roof!

'La La Land': Venice Review »

Film Review: ‘La La Land’ »

 

I saw the trailer last night and thought that this will either be a big flop or a big hit with no middle ground. I'll go to see it but I know musicals are anathema to many people.

 

I'm sure my wife will make me see it either way.

 

After seeing all the critical hosannas for this movie, I'm trying to temper my excitement so as not to have a repeat of The Artist. I did love Whiplash, though.

 

new clip. Looks kinda magical in a classic way

 

I'm catching it this weekend along with Manchester by the Sea. I'd say I can't wait but I'm trying really hard to control my excitement!

 

I wish I was home seeing this with my wife. We are two of the only people who loved Francis Ford Coppola's One From The Heart, which this trailer reminds me of.

 

I wished with all my heart I'd have liked it. Vegas and Waits, what could go wrong? sigh
I do vividly remember the Little Boy Blue billboard sequence, tho

 

One of the things that we like pointing out to people is that there is an additional couple in the film - the Greek Choir of Tom and Crystal - and you have to pay attention to the lyrics of the songs to get the full impact of the film. And also, it helps to appreciate that many of the transitions actually happened on the set, with lighting, scrims and half-silvered mirrors.

 

Interesting. Looks pretty low key and natural. But that Ryan Gosling Emma Stone combination has me thinking it's going to be a watch at home affair. I hated the way she broke with laughter during the song. I think the last "modern" musical I liked was Woody Allens "Everyone Says I love You." But what can you say about Gershwin and the greats? Plus, the non-musical scenes were also top notch Woody. One of my favs.

 

No one has seen this yet?

 

One From The Heart is one of my favorite movies.
I love that movie.

 

I am digging the cinematography and I like the romanticization of Los Angeles (since I romanticize it myself at times), but I've just never been a fan of musicals. The Oscar voters are going to eat this up, though. There's always one of these about every decade or so that drips "Hollywood glamour of a bygone era" that the voters can't seem to resist.